Restraining device

ABSTRACT

A device for restraining a patient in a chair comprising a belt adapted to be wrapped around the midriff of the patient and releasably secured behind the back of the chair, and a pair of straps secured to the belt in front of the patient and extending diagonally upwardly across the front of the patient, over his shoulders, and down behind the back of the chair where they are releasably secured to the belt.

United States Patent [72] Inventor John T. Pusey, Jr.

1739 Meadowbrook Road, Altadena, Calif. 91001 [21] Appl. No. 867,135

[22] Filed Oct. 17, 1969 [45] Patented Oct. 12, 1971 [5 4] RESTRAINING DEVICE 2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. CI 297/389 [51] Int. Cl A47c 31/00 [50] FieldofSearch 297/385,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,851,033 9/1953 Posey 297/389 X 2 /17 A 2,870,502 1/1959 Sasse 2,877,833 3/1959 Boles 297/389 3,136,311 6/1964 Lewis 297/389 3,191,599 6/1965 Kendall... 297/389X 3,306,662 2/1967 Finnigam. 297/389 3,466,090 9/1969 Posey 297/389 FOREIGN PATENTS 177,745 I 4/1922 Great Britain 297/389 Primary Examiner-James T. McCall Attamey-Christie, Parker & Hale ABSTRACT: A device for restraining a patient in a chair comprising a belt adapted to be wrapped around the midriff of the patient and releasably secured behind the back of the chair, and a pair of straps secured to the belt in front of the patient and extending diagonally upwardly across the front of the patient, over his shoulders, and down behind the back of the chair where they are releasably secured to the belt.

PAIENTEDnm 12 I9" ATTORNE Y RES'I'RAINING DEVICE tients lateral movement, but they do not provide restraint for the patients upper torso. As a result, an invalid, an elderly patient, or a patient who is not totally conscious ,often slumps forward in his chair and sustains injuries. To remedy this problem, restraining devices for securing the patients upper torso to the back of a chair have been developed, but these devices have been objectionable for a number of reasons. For example, previous restraining devices have ordinarily used a multiplicity of straps and buckles. This makes them cumbersome and difficult to apply and release rapidly..Some previous restraining devices have used fixed harness loops, but these devices cannot be applied or released quickly or comfortably because the patients head or arms must be stuck through the harness loops. Other previous restraining devices are bulky and heavy, thereby making them uncomfortable for the patient and inconvenient for an attendant to carry about. To support a patient comfortably, some devices must be applied so loosely that it is relatively easy for the patient to slip out of them. Other devices are not easily adaptable for use with all types of chairs.

This invention provides a rugged, lightweight, low-cost restraining device for securing a patient to a chair. The device restrains the patients lateral movement and provides a longitudinal restraint for his upper torso as well. It is simple in construction and is easily and quickly applied to the patient and released in the event of an emergency, for example.

Briefly, the restraining device of this invention includes an elongated belt that is wrapped around the patients midriff and releasably secured at its ends behind the back of a chair. A pair of straps secured to the front ofthe belt extend diagonally upwardly across the front of the patient, over his shoulders, and down behind the back of the chair where they are releasably fastened at their ends to the belt. The belt makes a snug fit around the patients waist, and the straps make a snug fit around the patients shoulders so that the patient is effectively, yet comfortably, restrained in his chair.

In use, each strap is drawn over the patients shoulder with diagonally upwardly to the right and strap 16 extends diagonally upwardly to the left. The straps cross at a point 20 4 where they are preferably secured together by conventional the desired degree of tightness and releasably secured to a respective portion of the belt behind the chair. The securing means for the belt ends and for the straps are adjustable in length so that the straining device of this invention fits patients having a wide range of sizes. It is quickly applied and released without moving the patients head or arms. Furthermore, it is not secured to any part of the chair, and is therefore adaptable for use independently of the type of chair used.

These and other aspects of the invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred form of the restraining device securing a patient to an ordinary chair;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of a wheelchair to which a patient is secured by the restraining device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan elevational view of the restraining device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan elevational view showing an alternative form of the restraining belt of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a plan elevational view showing a further altemative form of the restraining belt of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 3, the preferred form of the restraining device comprises an elongated belt 10 having a length sufficient to wrap around a patientss waist and the back of a chair. An elongated first strap I2 is secured to the inside of belt 10 at a location 14 to the left of a central portion 15 of the belt. An elongated second strap 16 is secured to the inside of belt 10 at a location 18 to the right of the belt's central portion 15. Strap 12 extends stitching, for example. Alternatively, a relatively short belt segment may be secured to one of the straps at location 20 by conventional stitching to form a belt loop. The other strap is then threaded through the belt loop so that the two straps are secured together at location 20.

An elongated section of a first type of Velcro material 22 is secured to the inside of belt 10 at its left end. A relatively short section of a first type of Velcro material 24 is secured to the inside of belt 10 between section 22 and location 14 where strap 12 is secured to the belt. An elongated section of a second type of Velcro material 26 is secured to the outside of belt 10 at its right end. A second relatively short section of a first type of Velcro material 28 is secured to the inside of belt 10 between section 26 and location 18 where strap 16 is secured to the belt. An elongated section of a second type of Velcro material 30 is secured to the outside of strap 12 at its end, and a second elongated section of a second type of Velcro material 32 is secured to the outside of strap 16 at its end.

The restraining device of FIG. 3 is used to secure a patient 34 to a conventional chair 36 by wrapping belt 10 around the patients midriff and drawing the ends of the belt behind an upright back 38 of the chair. Strap l2 is'extended diagonally upwardly across the front of the patient, over his right shoulder, and down behind the back of the chair. Likewise, strap 16 is extended diagonally upwardly across the front of the patient, over his left shoulder, and down behind the back of the chair. As seen best in FIG. 2, wherein patient 34 is seated in a wheelchair 40 having an upright back 42, the ends of belt 10 are pulled laterally across the back of the wheelchair and stuck together at Velcro sections 22 and 26 so that the belt'makes a snug, yet comfortable, fit around the patients midrifi'. Strap 12 is pulled down behind the back of the wheelchair where its Velcro section 28 is stuck to Velcro section 32 so that the strap makes a snug fit around the patients right shoulder. Similarly, strap 16 is pulled down behind the back of the chair and its Velcro section 30 is stuck to Velcro section 24 of the belt so that the strap makes a snug fit around the patients left shoulder.

The length of Velcro sections 22 and 26 is sufficient to enable belt 10 to fit patients having a wide range of waist sizes. The length of Velcro sections 30 and 32 is likewise sufficient to enable the restraining device to fit patients having a wide range of heights. In a preferred from of the invention, the belt and the straps are made of a strong, reinforced webbing which can be laundered by ordinary means. The restraining device can furthermore be made in small, medium, and large sizes to accommodate patients of different ages and sizes. The use of Velcro material as the restraining device s securing means provides substantial holding forces, enables the device to be quickly applied and released, and contributes in making the device a relatively lightweight object which is easily handled by an attendant.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show alternative securing means for belt 10 and for straps l2 and 16. In the restraining device of FIG. 4, a horizontal row of spaced-apart female-type snap fasteners 44 is located on the inside of belt 10 adjacent to its left end. A cooperating male-type snap fastener 46 is located on the inside of belt 10 adjacent to its right end. In use, fastener 46 is locked to one of fasteners 44 to provide an adjustable snug, yet comfortable, fit around the patients waist. A vertical row of three spaced-apart female-type snap fasteners 48 is located on the outside of strap 12 adjacent to its free end. A similar vertical row of three spaced-apart female-type snap fasteners 50 is located on the outside of strap 16 adjacent to its free end. A single male-type snap fastener 52 is secured to the inside of belt 10 between snap fastener 46 and location 18 where strap 16 is secured to the inside of belt 10. In use, fastener 52 is locked to one of fasteners 48 to provide an adjustable snug, yet comfortable, fit around the patients right shoulder. Similarly, a single male-type snap fastener 54 is secured to the the conventional seat belt. The end of strap 12 is doubled back on itself and laterally stitched at four spaced-apart locations to provide a vertical row of four belt loops 58 at the end of the strap. Strap 16 is doubled back on itself and similarly stitched to form a vertical row of four belt loops 60. In use, the straps are pulled down behind the back of the chair to make a snug fit around the patients shoulders. The left and right ends of belt are then respectively threaded through the particular one of belt loops 60 and 58 required to maintain the snug fit. The free end of belt 10 is then threaded through fastening rings 56 and pulled tight and held by friction to provide a snug fit around the patients waist.

lclaim:

1. An improved restraining device for restraining a patient in a chair with an upright back, the device including an elongated belt having a central portion disposed over the midriff of the patient, the belt being of sufficient length that it wraps around the patient and the back of the chair with the right and left free ends behind the back of the chair; a first elongated piece of thistle-cloth material at the right free end of the belt; a second elongated piece of thistle-cloth material at the left free end of the belt for fastening to the first piece of thistlecloth material so the free ends of the belt can be releasably stuck together behind the back of the chair immediately after the belt is drawn tightly around the patient and the back of the chair; a third elongated piece of thistle-cloth material spaced from the right free end of the belt and secured to the belt at a point behind the back of the chair; a fourth elongated piece of thistle-cloth material spaced from the left free end of the belt and secured to the belt at a point behind the back of the chair and spaced from the third piece of thistle-cloth material; an elongated right strap secured at one end to the central portion of the belt and extending diagonally upwardly across the front of the patient, over his right shoulder, and down behind the back of the chair so the free end of the strap terminates adjacent to the third piece of thistle-cloth material; an elongated left strap secured at one end to the central portion of the belt at a point spaced from said one end of the right strap, the left strap extending diagonally upwardly across the front of the patient, over his left shoulder, and down behind the back of the chair so that the free end of the strap terminates adjacent to the fourth piece of thistle-cloth material; a fifth elongated piece of thistle-cloth material secured to the free end of the right strap for releasably fastening the right strap to the third piece of thistle-cloth material behind the back of the chair immediately after the strap has been pulled tightly over the patients right shoulder; and a sixth elongated piece of thistlecloth material secured to the free end of the left strap for releasably fastening the left strap to the fourth piece of thistlecloth material behind the back of the chair immediately after the left strap has been pulled tightly over the patients left shoulder.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the third and fourth pieces of thistle-cloth material are secured to the inner side of the belt, and the fifth and sixth pieces of thistlecloth material are secured to the outer side of the right and left straps, so the free ends of the straps fit under the belt to fasten the straps to the belt. 

1. An improved restraining device for restraining a patient in a chair with an upright back, the device including an elongated belt having a central portion disposed over the midriff of the patient, the belt being of sufficient length that it wraps around the patient and the back of the chair with the right and left free ends behind the back of the chair; a first elongated piece of thistle-cloth material at the right free end of the belt; a second elongated piece of thistle-cloth material at the left free end of the belt for fastening to the first piece of thistle-cloth material so the free ends of the belt can be releasably stuck together behind the back of the chair immediately after the belt is drawn tightly around the patient and the back of the chair; a third elongated piece of thistle-cloth material spaced from the right free end of the belt and secured to the belt at a point behind the back of the chair; a fourth elongated piece of thistle-cloth material spaced froM the left free end of the belt and secured to the belt at a point behind the back of the chair and spaced from the third piece of thistle-cloth material; an elongated right strap secured at one end to the central portion of the belt and extending diagonally upwardly across the front of the patient, over his right shoulder, and down behind the back of the chair so the free end of the strap terminates adjacent to the third piece of thistle-cloth material; an elongated left strap secured at one end to the central portion of the belt at a point spaced from said one end of the right strap, the left strap extending diagonally upwardly across the front of the patient, over his left shoulder, and down behind the back of the chair so that the free end of the strap terminates adjacent to the fourth piece of thistle-cloth material; a fifth elongated piece of thistle-cloth material secured to the free end of the right strap for releasably fastening the right strap to the third piece of thistle-cloth material behind the back of the chair immediately after the strap has been pulled tightly over the patient''s right shoulder; and a sixth elongated piece of thistle-cloth material secured to the free end of the left strap for releasably fastening the left strap to the fourth piece of thistle-cloth material behind the back of the chair immediately after the left strap has been pulled tightly over the patient''s left shoulder.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the third and fourth pieces of thistle-cloth material are secured to the inner side of the belt, and the fifth and sixth pieces of thistle-cloth material are secured to the outer side of the right and left straps, so the free ends of the straps fit under the belt to fasten the straps to the belt. 